Submarine base of Saint-Nazaire

[sav112]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ba..._stnazaire.jpg


Anyone place this on a Sat map? I had a look but could not find it

Also is it frowned upon going to see such places, thinking of doing a drive through France visiting war site like the D-day beaches etc and would love to see this pen up close.

[TarJak]

Use google maps ans search for Bassin de St Nazaire. Turn on Satellite and look for the big grey roofed building right on the waterfront.

Try here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...4mne_w&split=0

[August]

Originally Posted by sav112

Also is it frowned upon going to see such places, thinking of doing a drive through France visiting war site like the D-day beaches etc and would love to see this pen up close.

For years i've wanted to do a tour of European battlefields but there are just so many to see! Normandy, Bastogne, Waterloo, Verdun, the Somme, Belleau Wood, Alesia, Thermopylae,... heck just covering my A-list could take months! It might have to wait until I retire.

[sav112]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...,286.08,,0,5.4

A great thats the building I thought with that kind of roof but needed street view to see it.


I'm sure there is a web site with all this stuff listed.

[Raptor1]

Why would it be frowned upon going to visit historical places and battlefields?

Unfortunately didn't have much time to get to battlefields and the like when I was in Europe a few months ago, only managed to visit a few (Namely Waterloo and Ypres, had to cancel Normandy, Verdun and most sadly Rocroi)...

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Well, I went to Bastogne, Coleville-Sur-Mer, Caen...well, I guess that's really about it. I'm sure I passed by battle sites and didn't realize it at the time (lack of internet!!)

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by August

For years i've wanted to do a tour of European battlefields but there are just so many to see! Normandy, Bastogne, Waterloo, Verdun, the Somme, Belleau Wood, Alesia, Thermopylae,... heck just covering my A-list could take months! It might have to wait until I retire.

If you ever plan a group road trip to Thermopylae, let me know!

Wondering about Alesia, has there been a definitive finding on which place was the actual site? I'm assuming we're talking about Caesar laying siege to the Gauls. I always thought there was some disagreement about where Alesia was located, I know there were at least a couple places that were claiming to be the site, or were at one time believed to be the site.

[August]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

If you ever plan a group road trip to Thermopylae, let me know!

Wondering about Alesia, has there been a definitive finding on which place was the actual site? I'm assuming we're talking about Caesar laying siege to the Gauls. I always thought there was some disagreement about where Alesia was located, I know there were at least a couple places that were claiming to be the site, or were at one time believed to be the site.

I believe Alise-Sainte-Reine is the most likely of the contenders but there's no reason we couldn't see all of them!

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by TarJak

YUse google maps ans search for Bassin de St Nazaire. Turn on Satellite and look for the big grey roofed building right on the waterfront.

Try here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...4mne_w&split=0

WOW That is so cool. I got excited seeing that in street view. I must be addicted to SH3.

That is a bookmark I will keep. I wonder if other uboat pens are available to see.

Thanks for sharing.

Tweety

[DarkFish]

Originally Posted by sav112

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ba..._stnazaire.jpg


Anyone place this on a Sat map? I had a look but could not find it

Also is it frowned upon going to see such places, thinking of doing a drive through France visiting war site like the D-day beaches etc and would love to see this pen up close.

last summer I was on holiday near Saint Nazaire so of course I just *had* to go visit the base.
Unfortunately, little of it is in its original state. most of the pens have been filled up with concrete and the bunkers have been stripped of everything original.

A few days later I did also visit the Lorient U-Boat base. That one was really gorgeous, much of it in its original state.
However, you can only visit Lorient on a guided tour, no free roaming.

When I get home tomorrow I'll see if I can post some pics

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by August

I believe Alise-Sainte-Reine is the most likely of the contenders but there's no reason we couldn't see all of them!

Good point!

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by DarkFish

When I get home tomorrow I'll see if I can post some pics

Ooooh please do!

[Torvald Von Mansee]

You know, when it comes to battle sites, I realize I've seen MUCH more of American Revolution and Civil War sites: Antietam, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Lexington & Concord, Saratoga, Cowpens, blah blah blah....

I guess there's nothing really to see at Crecy and Agincourt today, is there?

[Happy Times]

Originally Posted by August

For years i've wanted to do a tour of European battlefields but there are just so many to see! Normandy, Bastogne, Waterloo, Verdun, the Somme, Belleau Wood, Alesia, Thermopylae,... heck just covering my A-list could take months! It might have to wait until I retire.

Whats on your A-list? Im also interested in the older ones.

[DarkFish]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Ooooh please do!

as you wish

Saint-Nazaire pens:


.. and the best pen from the inside. The rest are either filled up with concrete or commercialized. And even this one is only half it's original length.


Something I can wholeheartedly recommend in the St-Nazaire area (La Baule if I'm right) is this small museum located inside a harbour defence bunker:


with a part of it's original camouflage restored (it was camouflaged as a hotel, originally it even had a tiled roof but that's now gone):


Now, on to Lorient


Inside the bunker:


Now this is what a U-Boot bunker roof looks like:


View from one of its flak towers: